The fun house

Baltimore's row houses are immediately recognizable by simple marble steps, plain brick or form-stone facades and hand-painted window screens. These characteristics (with some fun twists) make the row house folly amusing. Outlines of neon accentuate the form and animate the folly. In the category of New or Renovated Entertainment/Themed Centers, Baltimore-based RTKL Associates Inc. was awarded the 2001 SADI for its design work on the project.

Pinball Palace places visitors inside a larger than life pinball machine. Customers enter under giant, animated neon flippers. Overhead, a two-ft. pinball slides down a large spiraling track, dropping into a center sculpture of light and color. The detailed floor features a graphic full of lighting bolts, bulls-eyes and bold color. Pulsating colored lights create a constant show, escalating to a climactic finish as the pinball drops.

The food court honors the B&O Railroad and Baltimore's roundhouse. Railroad tracks become a tile pattern in the floor. A three-dimensional train frames the space with each car displaying a tenant name. A main sign in the center court, reminiscent of train station reader boards, directs visitors to food vendors.

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